Realtors team up to help families for the holidays

Published 2:35 pm, Monday, December 3, 2012

For many families, Christmas trees and presents are a staple during the holidays. But for families experiencing homelessness, holiday moments are more of a dream than reality.

Two local San Antonio groups, the San Antonio Board of Realtors (SABOR) and SAMM ministries are teaming up for “Santa at SAMM” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

“Santa at SAMM” is a free event coordinated by the Young Professionals Network (YPN), a division within SABOR. The event will feature pictures with Santa, refreshments, games and crafts. The photos SABOR is providing each family are important, said SAMM volunteer coordinator Luke Leppla.

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“For many families during their homelessness there's a hole in their life,” Leppla said. “There are no pictures or records or events. When they finally get out of homelessness, they can't go back and document those years when kids were growing up.”

The realtor members of YPN have also been holding a toy drive for the children at SAMMinistries.

“We just want to give them a day of fun around the holidays,” explained Angela Shields, SABOR president and CEO. “While it's important to be there for the adults, I think the children are the ones who need that sense of security. We felt it was important to help families and individuals.”

Shields said that SABOR felt it was important every family got a portrait to remember this holiday time. She added that SABOR chose SAMM as it's philanthropy because both groups are focused on people finding homes.

“Statistics and studies show a home gives you the foundation and security,” Shields said. “Whether you're in a home you purchased or renting a home, studies show how positive that it is for the children coming up in the home.

“We understand the significance of that. What SAMM does is so important to our community because they help people come off the street so they can be well on their way to being independent.”

And when many people are thinking about coming home for the holidays, Leppla says it has particular significance for the homeless.

Even though individuals have access to transitional housing as part of SAMM's program and aren't sleeping on the street, he says many don't feel that they are truly “home.”

“A home really means family,” Leppla said. “The word home refers to safety, warmth, love. For the families staying in our shelter, they're transitioning out of a time when they were sleeping in a car and there was no safety and an absence of love. That's what home really means.”

Santa at SAMM will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at SAMMinistries on 5922 Blanco Road.